Tuesday, May 20, 2014

FINALLY AVAILABLE: A NEW LEAF (1971) Starring Walter Matthau and Elaine May

I'm happy to announce that the best romantic comedy of the 1970's, 80's, 90's and on into the 21st century is FINALLY available on Netflix for home viewing. After waiting and waiting, practically growing a beard waiting, Walter Matthau and Elaine May are now only as far away as your nearest mail box.

THE HEAVENS REJOICE!

(Unless you already own the film which in that case places you in the league of rare and most fortunate of earth creatures.

A NEW LEAF, in my un-biased opinion, is a romantic comedy for the ages. Hyperbole? I think not. If this film doesn't make you laugh, then ladies and gents, woe to you.

Yes, I know I've raved about this movie plenty of times before. But when has that ever stopped me from returning to rave some more?

At some point I got tired of people saying "Huh? I never heard of this movie." HEY - your loss. Not my fault. I told you about the genius of Elaine May. Well, maybe not in exactly those words, but close enough. After all she wrote, directed and stars in A NEW LEAF so we can only assume the film reflects her unique magnificence.

Now is the time to act, movie mavens! Get your hands on A NEW LEAF and not only be prepared to laugh but also to be unexpectedly touched. See how the most obnoxious, reprehensible gold digging ex-rich boy, Henry Graham (Walter Matthau), is brought to heel by his purely unexpected affection for Henrietta Lowell (Elaine May) the most fumblingly hapless, klutzy millionaire professor of botany who has ever lived. (But maybe not for long if Henry decides to carry through with his murder plans. The cad.)
How I envy those of you seeing this for the first time.....Sigh!Since this is Tuesday, don't forget to check in at Todd Mason's blog, Sweet Freedom, to see what other Forgotten (or Overlooked) Films, Television and/or Other Audio Visuals, other bloggers are talking about today. We're a happy enough crew.

20 comments:

I'm one of those who had never heard of the film, or if I had, it left no memory trace. Frankly, I don't like romantic comedies as I seldom if ever find them funny. However, I will give this one a try since it's now available on Netflix.

This one you WILL find funny, Fred - OR ELSE! Ha! If you like acerbic wit (which I think you do), if you like Walter Matthau and his sneering ways (which you might), if you like the idea of a damsel in distress (which, since you love poetry, you may), then you will enjoy this movie. All I can say is that A NEW LEAF is one of my All Time Favorite Movies - in the Top Ten. No pressure. Ha!

What is maddening about this great release is that it was, reportedly, seriously screwed around with by the studio, who added a score May hated (and which was lifted from a completely different movie) and reduced the length greatly - despite the fact that May is thankfully still with us there has never even been a hint that her version might see the light of day. Which is not to in any way knock what we have ... but there could be a lot more of it!!!

I never knew that, Sergio. But now that I do, all I can say is what is left is choice. How much more brilliance could we stand? I LOVE the ending, so if they fiddled around with it, guess what, it works for me. Though I am curious to see what was left out. Maybe with this new release, Elaine May will speak out? I think she probably got a raw deal precisely because she is a woman AND a genius. Hard combo for men in charge to deal with.

Just added it to my Netflix queue! Thanks so much. In the past year, I discovered that I LOVE Hopscotch. It is on Netflix Instant but after watching it 3, or is it 4?, times, I bought my own DVD. I've tried to sort out why I think it is so great. I think because the good guy wins, and wins all through the movie. The locales are great. And Glenda Jackson is just superb. Their relationship is wonderful.

Oh, I'm a BIG fan of HOPSCOTCH, Nan, so much so that I've been meaning to watch it again. Maybe I'll have to buy my very own copy as well. I will definitely be buying A NEW LEAF to add to my slowly growing and rather tiny library of films. I'm with you on the the good guy winning. To many films today have just the opposite ending. I'm not one to appreciate grim for grim's sake. Ha.

I loved this movie. Elaine May and Walter Matthau are a winning combination. And, yes, I liked the ending, too.

I laugh my way through this movie. Maybe I have to have my own copy, too.

And as for Hopscotch, I saw it years ago and didn't remember it. Then when you posted about it, I watched it and loved it, laughed throughout. I loaned it to friends who also loved it, then to another friend, the same.

It seems a universal favorite. I wonder what the powers-that-be so mocked in the film like it or hate it.

Watching this spurred me on to see other Glenda Jackson and/or Walter Matthau films. Some were a lot of fun, some not so much.

Jackson is now an elected member of Parliament in England, and is quite progressive and not afraid to say what she thinks -- not that we would think otherwise.

Kathy I didn't know about Jackson's political career. Wow. I can just hear that marvelous voice in chambers or wherever. I'll bet she makes herself heard. My favorite Glenda Jackson role is and always will be ELIZABETH I, the Masterpiece Theater mini series way back when. But I also loved her in HOPSCOTCH, of course. :)

Yvette, I read your review of this movie and your description of Matthau's character as "fastidious, grumpy, upper crust snob," is how I imagine Matthau to be. He was so natural and unassuming. I don't think I was around back in 2010 but I'm glad you wrote about this film again, especially with news (or rumours) about Netflix coming to India.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you get Netflix in your neck of the woods, Prashant. Sooner rather than later. :)I love Walter Matthau - who doesn't? If you ever get a chance to see A NEW LEAF, I'm pretty sure you'll love it.